Improvement in chalk-holders for billiard-tables



u. w. cousuugn. BhaIk-Hold'ers m Billiard-Table 'sf No. 143 3 5 Patented W t-21,1873;

d4 w g, wa /WM UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE. v

HUGH w. GOLLENDER, or new Yemen. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHALK-HOLDERS FOR BlLLlARD-TABLES.

Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 143,885, dated October 21, 1873 application filed August 12, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH W. OOLLENDER, of New York city, in theState of New York, have invented an Improved Chalk-Holder for Billiard-Table; and I do hereby declare that ers, arranged at various points beneath the.

cushion-rails of the tables, (generally one at each end of the table and two at each side,) and so formed and mounted on vertical pivots or ,bolts that they might be vibrated or turned under the said rails out of the way, the rails forming a cover to the chalk-box when its contents were not needed. To this, almost universally employed, kind of chalk-box there are very serious objections, with which every roomkeeper must be familiar, chief among which are the liability of the box to get loose or broken off, and the annoyance to the player of often getting choked, open, and in the way. Being supported at one end by the vertical pivot or screw by which it is attached'to the table, it follows, as a necessary consequence, that when. more chalk is carelessly put into the box than it is intended to hold, any effort to close it or shut it under the rail, out of the way, will cause the chalk to wedge down. the box, and either loosen or break its coupling or pivot attachment; and, even when carefully used, it is apt to be often left open by the player to the annoyance of his opponent or himself.

My invention has for its main objects to overcome all the objections embraced in the ordinary chalk-box, and, at the same time, provide 7 when closed, give a unique appearance to, the

chalk-box or receptacle, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to more fully describe the construction and operation of my improved billiard-table ehalk-receptacle,,

referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in whichi p v Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective, a portion of a table provided with my invention." Figv 2 is a similar view, except that in the latter the receptacle is shown as if open. Fig. 3 is a ver tical section through the center of the box; and Fig. 4 is a similar section, showing a modification of my invention.

In the several figures the same parts are designated by the same letter of reference.

A represents the body of what is known as one of the new design bevel-tables. B is the box or receptacle for holding the chalk, and G is its lid or cover. The box B may be made, as shown, of cast metal, as may also its cover 0, or it may be made of wood or other material. If made separately from and attached to the table, as shown, it will probably be most expedient to have the box and its sliding lid cast of the desired pattern, either of bronze metal or of iron, and then painted and finished to correspond with the finish of the table. The cover or lid 0 is made to slide, somewhat after the fashion of the revolving cover of a desk, and may be so shaped and arranged that it will automatically close itself (after having been pressed back by hand) by its own weight; or it may be otherwise arranged, as seen at Fig. 4, and provided with some sort of spring device, as at d, to effect the automatic closing. The receptacle orbox B is stationary, is of the proper capacity to contain the usual or a suffieient supply of chalk, and is so shaped and located that, while it will be entirely out of the way, at all times, of the player, it will be easy of access, and will form a part, apparently, of the body of the table, and its ornamentation. By having the box B of such size that it will contain two or three pieces of chalk (such pieces as generally prepared for billiard-table use) the liability of an over-charge (when the proper number of pieces is supplied to the table) will never tend to any strain 011, or derangement of, the parts, since any such overcharge can only pre- Vent the lid 0 from wholly closing.

It will be understood that in carrying out my invention any number of the chalk-boxes may be applied to the table at such points as deemed best, and that they may be either applied to or formed with the body of the table, and of any pattern or design desired, according to the style of the table.

The feature of the automatic closing of the box-cover, either by gravity or some suitable closing device, may of course be dispensedwith, and the box be provided with a cover which will require to be closed by hand, without departing from the main feature of my invention or losing the main advantages thereof, the gist of such main feature of novelty resting in the idea of the stationary and conveniently-located receptacles, provided with some sort of covering and finishing lid or device.

I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting my claim of invention to any particularities of pattern or design in the box or its covering device, or to the location on or arrangement with the table shown; but

Having so fully explained my improvement that any one skilled can make and use the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A chalk-box or receptacle for billiard-table, composed of a stationary holder suitably patterned and located, and provided Witha cover, which, when closed, forms part of the holder, and covers its contents.

2. A stationary chalk-box provided with an automatically-olosin g cover or lid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of June, 1873.

HUGH W. GOLLENDER. [L. s.]

Witnesses J. MoINrmE, W. H. MYER. 

